Definition
Fishing is an activity of catching fish for food or as a sport[1] . Fishing has suffered from pollution, habitat degradation overfishing and some harmful fishing practices[2] . At the same time when fish supply reach its record levels, FAO estimates that 31,4 percent of fish stock are overfished[3] .
Connection to food
According to FAO, billions of people are dependent on fishing at least in some extent. In 2000, fish products represented 15,3 percent of animal protein people consumed[4] . Fish is also good source of several vitamins as well as good fats.[5] FAO report concludes that small-scale fishiers in developing countries are especially vulnerable "due to their direct and indirect exposure to climate change and acidification, their high dependency on ecosystems that support capture fisheries and the farming of fish and their low capacities to adapt"[6] . Demand for seafood has recently been increasing, which has led to a crisis in many fishieries as ecosystems have started to produce less fish[7] . 64 percent of European fish stocks are currently over fished. Fish catch could be increased by over 50 % if fish stocks would be allowed to grow and fished sustainably.[8]
Connection to SDGs Climate change affects to fishing in many ways. In tropical areas, the fish biomass is expected to decrease while it is expected to increase in temperate areas and high latitudes which become warmer as a result of climate change.[9] SDG 14 targets to end overfishing and reduce water pollution that harmfully affects to fishing. SDG 12 in turn calls for responsible consumption which means responsible fishing and securing the existence of different species.
Organizational illustrations The market for seafood in many countries is dominated by large corporations. Thirteen big corporations control between 20 and 40 percent of the worlds largest and most valuable marine food stock. These same corporations also control up to 16% of global marine catch. These corporations represent only 0.5 percent of registered fishing companies globally. These companies all dominate global production revenues, control globally important production segment, connect ecosystems globally through their supply networks and has an influence over global governance of the sector. [10]
Marine Harvest from Norway is one of the largest fishing companies in the world. Marine Harvest has a CSR plan that relates to the UN development goal 2 Zero Hunger. They state that they are aware about the problems of overfishing, but points out that this global food crisis cannot be solved by one company alone.[11]
Examples from Finland It is not just overfishing that poses a threat to the possibilities for humans to consume seafood. The Baltic Sea has so high levels of toxic components, specifically dioxins, quicksilver and PCB-components, that the Finnish health authorities have advised against consuming large amounts of fish caught in the Baltic sea. The official recommendation is to eat fish caught in the Baltic sea only 1-2 times per month. This applies especially to children, young people and pregnant women. Fish caught in Finnish lakes have much lower levels of toxic components. Farmed fish also has lower levels of toxic components since their feed is closely monitored.[12]
In the video, Matti Ovaska from WWF Finland discuss about sustainable choices customers can do when buying fish. He also explains the difference between cultivated and wild fish in a sustainability perspective.
^ FAO (2016). Fishiers, Aquaculture and Climate Change. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Available: <http://www.fao.org/3/a-i6383e.pdf> (accessed 23.3.2017)
^ FAO (2016). Fishiers, Aquaculture and Climate Change. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Available: <http://www.fao.org/3/a-i6383e.pdf> (accessed 23.3.2017)
^ FAO (2016). Fishiers, Aquaculture and Climate Change. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Available: <http://www.fao.org/3/a-i6383e.pdf> (accessed 23.3.2017)
Seggel, A.; De Young, C. & Soto, D. (2016). Climate change implications for fishiers and aquaculture. FAO Fishiers and Aquaculture Circular No. C1122. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Available: <http://www.fao.org/3/a-i5707e.pdf> (accessed 23.3.2017)
FAO (2016). Fishiers, Aquaculture and Climate Change. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Available: <http://www.fao.org/3/a-i6383e.pdf> (accessed 23.3.2017)
Fishing is an activity of catching fish for food or as a sport[1] . Fishing has suffered from pollution, habitat degradation overfishing and some harmful fishing practices[2] . At the same time when fish supply reach its record levels, FAO estimates that 31,4 percent of fish stock are overfished[3] .
Connection to food
According to FAO, billions of people are dependent on fishing at least in some extent. In 2000, fish products represented 15,3 percent of animal protein people consumed[4] . Fish is also good source of several vitamins as well as good fats.[5] FAO report concludes that small-scale fishiers in developing countries are especially vulnerable "due to their direct and indirect exposure to climate change and acidification, their high dependency on ecosystems that support capture fisheries and the farming of fish and their low capacities to adapt"[6] . Demand for seafood has recently been increasing, which has led to a crisis in many fishieries as ecosystems have started to produce less fish[7] .
64 percent of European fish stocks are currently over fished. Fish catch could be increased by over 50 % if fish stocks would be allowed to grow and fished sustainably.[8]
Connection to SDGs
Climate change affects to fishing in many ways. In tropical areas, the fish biomass is expected to decrease while it is expected to increase in temperate areas and high latitudes which become warmer as a result of climate change.[9] SDG 14 targets to end overfishing and reduce water pollution that harmfully affects to fishing. SDG 12 in turn calls for responsible consumption which means responsible fishing and securing the existence of different species.
Organizational illustrations
The market for seafood in many countries is dominated by large corporations. Thirteen big corporations control between 20 and 40 percent of the worlds largest and most valuable marine food stock. These same corporations also control up to 16% of global marine catch. These corporations represent only 0.5 percent of registered fishing companies globally. These companies all dominate global production revenues, control globally important production segment, connect ecosystems globally through their supply networks and has an influence over global governance of the sector. [10]
Marine Harvest from Norway is one of the largest fishing companies in the world. Marine Harvest has a CSR plan that relates to the UN development goal 2 Zero Hunger. They state that they are aware about the problems of overfishing, but points out that this global food crisis cannot be solved by one company alone.[11]
Examples from Finland
It is not just overfishing that poses a threat to the possibilities for humans to consume seafood. The Baltic Sea has so high levels of toxic components, specifically dioxins, quicksilver and PCB-components, that the Finnish health authorities have advised against consuming large amounts of fish caught in the Baltic sea. The official recommendation is to eat fish caught in the Baltic sea only 1-2 times per month. This applies especially to children, young people and pregnant women. Fish caught in Finnish lakes have much lower levels of toxic components. Farmed fish also has lower levels of toxic components since their feed is closely monitored.[12]
In the video, Matti Ovaska from WWF Finland discuss about sustainable choices customers can do when buying fish. He also explains the difference between cultivated and wild fish in a sustainability perspective.
Quiz
Quiz created by Felicia Aminoff with GoConqr
Open source articles
External links
Seggel, A.; De Young, C. & Soto, D. (2016). Climate change implications for fishiers and aquaculture. FAO Fishiers and Aquaculture Circular No. C1122. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Available: <http://www.fao.org/3/a-i5707e.pdf> (accessed 23.3.2017)
<http://www.su.se/english/about/news-and-events/thirteen-corporations-control-up-to-40-per-cent-of-world-s-most-valuable-fisheries-1.237699> (accessed 1.4.2017)
Ovaska Matti, WWF. Interview 11.4.2017 by Felicia Aminoff.
FAO (2016). Fishiers, Aquaculture and Climate Change. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Available: <http://www.fao.org/3/a-i6383e.pdf> (accessed 23.3.2017)
Stockholm university (2015). Thirteen corporations control up to 40 per cent of world’s most valuable fisheries. Available:
<http://www.su.se/english/about/news-and-events/thirteen-corporations-control-up-to-40-per-cent-of-world-s-most-valuable-fisheries-1.237699> (accessed 1.4.2017)
Marine Harvest (n.d.). Sustainability: food security. Availiable: <http://marineharvest.com/planet/sustainability/> (accessed 1.4.2017)
Evira (2016). Kalan syöntisuositukset. Available: <https://www.evira.fi/elintarvikkeet/tietoa-elintarvikkeista/elintarvikevaarat/elintarvikkeiden-kayton-rajoitukset/kalan-syontisuositukset/> (accessed 1.4.2017)